7 arrests made in German tourist killing, San Francisco police say

Tools

San Francisco police have announced 7 arrests in connection with the killing of a German tourist near Union Square on Aug. 8.

Mechthild Schröer, 50, the headmaster of an elementary school in Minden, Germany, was fatally shot by a stray bullet during a gun battle between groups of teenagers at Mason and Geary streets.

Mechthild's husband, Stefan, watched his wife die on the street. The couple had been on a three-week U.S. vacation to celebrate their wedding anniversary and Mechthild’s birthday. At the time of the shooting, they were searching for a restaurant.

The killing happened just before nightfall amid dozens of witnesses, but nine months have passed with no one held accountable. While arrests were made shortly after the shooting, insufficient evidence prevented charges from being filed.

Last week, then interim-police Chief Jeff Godown announced that at least five suspects were being eyed in connection with the homicide. The case had been passed on to the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office about a month ago, Godown said. Cops were waiting for the DA to review the case before pursuing arrests, he said.

Godown made the announcement the same week the slain tourist’s husband, Stefan, revisited The City with his two sons, who were in Germany at the time of their mother’s death. Stefan brought his sons to the crime scene.